Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Ponte Basics

Happy New Year, Fabricistas!

For this new year post, I decided to focus on some solid basics for me and my husband in easy to wear, easy to sew ponte knits. For him, a shawl-collar Thread Theory Finlayson Sweater:


For me, a shawl-collar Hot Patterns Metropolitan Chimera cardigan/jacket:


When I was choosing fabric, Fabric Mart had some fabulous ponte in stock. For my husband, I opted for a fossil grey rayon/nylon/lyrca ponte, and a solid midnight black viscose/nylon/lycra ponte for myself. Both colors are out of stock, but they have some other fun shades in this fabulous substrate!


I found Tim was between sizes on the Thread Theory size chart, so for his Finlayson sweater, I cut the smaller size (a Large), but used a small seam allowance than called for. It worked out well! I love this pattern. Such nice details, like a decorative back neck facing.


Tim looks great in the Finlayson! He's worn it a bunch since I made it. It's perfect for layering over a t-shirt or buttondown shirt and, in this ponte, is classy enough to wear to his business casual office. I think the Finlayson could even go dressier if you left off the cuffs and hem band and just hemmed instead (you'd have to lengthen it a bit, of course).


Now onto my Metropolitan Chimera jacket! I was going for a classic black, slouchy, boyfriend-style blazer with this project. This shawl-collar pattern has panel seams, two-piece sleeves and Dior darts, which intrigued me!


I quite like the blazer. The fit is pretty great (the only adjustment I made was a full bicep adjustment, which is pretty common for me) and the fabric is super soft and comfortable to wear. I think the Dior darts (which are little bit difficult to see in the photos in this black fabric) really add a little something special to the simple design.


I'm having a little bit of trouble with the bodice of the blazer pulling away from the shawl collar, but I had a similar issue with another shawl collar blazer I made, so perhaps it's just an issue with the style.


I'm loving this great basic jacket, though. I think it will work well with many other pieces in my handmade wardrobe. Here I've paired it with a double gauze Beatrix blouse and my Ames jeans.


Thanks for reading and thanks to Fabric Mart for the lovely fabric! See you back here in a few months. Check out my blog, Cookin' and Craftin', in the meantime!

Comments

  1. I love both pieces! The Finlayson is a must have for my husband. I've seen Hot Patterns before, but I haven't seen them made up much, thanks for highlighting that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Laquana! He really likes the Finlayson, so I'm happy. I made it in late November and he's worn it at least once a week to work since then! I'll definitely make him another.

      Hot Patterns have some cool designs (did you see what I did there?!)!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Help Our Buyers Shop!

  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?

Made By A Fabricista: Surgery, a pattern hack, and a hemming tip.

Hello sewing friends! I’m here on the blog today sharing a pattern hack I recently did to boost my wardrobe with a few pieces to wear during my recovery from surgery…and I’m also sharing a tip for those pesky rounded hems. So let’s jump in! I recently had surgery on my neck due to issues with my parathyroid glands. All went to plan and I’m doing well, but I have to admit, the scar was a bit larger and more prominent than I expected. I definitely want to cover it up a bit during the healing process, and I realized that I own very few tops that cover that area of my neck. I don’t really love wearing high neck tops, so I came up with the idea to sew a top that I could convert back to my preferred style once I recover.  The pattern I used to do this is the Laundry Day Tee from Love Notions. This pattern is a fan favorite in the sewing community and has been around for more than ten years. I love the style – fitted at the bust but with extra swing at the waist, with lots of sleeve and n...

Made By A Fabricista: Jalie Open Front Blazer-Style Cardigan

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! If you’re looking for a versatile transitional spring layering piece - something you can dress up for the office or dress down for everyday wear - this ponte knit blazer-style cardigan might be exactly what your handmade wardrobe needs. This time around I’m sewing the Jalie Open Front Blazer-Style Cardigan , an indie sewing pattern designed for stable knits, using Fabric Mart’s Wet Sand Rayon/Nylon/Lycra Ponte Knit . This fabric and pattern pairing creates the perfect structured knit cardigan for spring, fall, and even cool summer evenings. The pattern specifically calls for a stable knit, and this rayon/nylon/lycra ponte knit was an ideal choice. Ponte fabric provides structure and recovery while still offering comfortable stretch, making it perfect for blazer-style cardigans, knit jackets, and professional layering pieces. The “wet sand” neutral tone is a wardrobe workhorse. If you’ve been following along, you know I usually ...